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From the classic three-reeled slots and 2D table games to fun 3D online slots and immersive live casino games, casino software providers have come a long way – and they continue to make innovations. In this guide, we will look at what casino software providers are, the best casino providers, and a lot more.
What are casino software providers?
As the term suggests, casino software providers (game developers) are the companies that create games that you play at online casinos. Popular and common games created by casinos include slots, table games, live casino games, game shows, and other types of games.
Back in the early days of online casinos, each casino used to produce its own games. This meant that as a player, you could play only the games produced by that casino. With casino providers, players get access to a wide variety of casino games
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Today, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that software providers are the backbone of the iGaming industry. To add to that, developers are always innovating and exploring various themes, mechanics, and features. In addition to the games, software providers also connect casinos through progressive jackpot networks, network promotions, and more.
| Microgaming (Games Global) is often considered to be the first company to start developing online casino software in 1994. It was one of the earliest casino software providers that set early industry standards. Today, it has won several awards, has a vast portfolio of games, and continues to produce more games. |
How do casino providers work?
Now that you’re familiar with what casino providers are, let’s understand how they work so we can better understand their role in the online casino ecosystem.
- Develop games: One of the main roles of casino software providers is to create new games with the help of game developers, designers, mathematicians, and more. These games are built on the RNG (Random Number Generator) software to ensure that the outcomes are random and fair. Most games that you see today use HTML5, which ensures that they’re compatible with several devices.
- Obtain licenses: In addition to making games, the provider has to secure licenses to showcase that the company’s products meet industry standards for fairness, security, responsible gaming, and player protection.
- Get games tested and certified: After a game is created, the providers have to get it tested for fairness. This is done by independent auditing firms like GLI, eCOGRA, BMM, and iTech Labs. Once the auditors confirm RNG’s accuracy, RTP of the game, and fairness, the game becomes ready for release.
- Collaborate with online casinos: To supply their games, software providers collaborate with casino operators. Most providers let the operators choose games for their platforms, or they integrate everything that a provider has to offer.
- Distribute and integrate games: Software providers distribute their games via direct integration with online casinos, or they collaborate with game aggregators like SOFTSWISS. As you can guess, game aggregators act as intermediaries and offer games from multiple providers using a single API integration.
- Support and updates: After the providers deliver a game, they shift their focus on maintaining smooth performance, resolving any issues by extending support, and also rolling out updates for their products.
Casino software providers vs game aggregators
Just as we discussed above, there is a slight difference between a casino software provider and a game aggregator. To avoid any confusion, we will be quickly looking at some of the terms.
- Casino software provider: As mentioned earlier, a software provider is a company that produces games. Some of the notable examples include NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Playtech, and other providers.
- Game aggregator: Now, game aggregators like SOFTSWISS essentially act as intermediaries and offer games from multiple providers via a single API solution. That being said, a game aggregator can also be a casino software provider. For instance, Relax Gaming makes casino games, but it also acts as a game aggregator and offers games from several other studios.
- Casino platform: This usually refers to the underlying software that powers an online casino. It includes things like the user interface, payment processing systems, security features, and the game management system. A good example would be SOFTSWISS offering their rewards platform or crypto payment solution platforms to online casinos.
- Casino operator: A casino operator owns and operates online casinos. The operator is in charge of obtaining licenses, marketing the casino, handling customer support, and ensuring fair play. Operators rent or license the casino platform and games from providers and aggregators, then use them on casino sites. In the UK, some of the notable casinos include All Britsh Casino, PlayOJO, Pub Casino, and more.
Best casino software providers in the UK
Before we head any further into the guide, let’s have a look at some of the top casino software providers and where you can play their signature games in the UK –
| Provider | Best known for | Play at |
| NetEnt | Well-established provider that offers high-quality slots like Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest | PlayOJO |
| Microgaming | One of the oldest developers with a vast portfolio and Mega Moolah jackpot slots that have paid out millions in rewards | Casumo |
| Evolution Gaming | Often considered the leading provider of live casino games and engaging game shows like Crazy Time and Monopoly Live | MrQ |
| Pragmatic Play | Best known for a wide variety of slots with diverse themes like Sweet Bonanza (and growing live games portfolio) | All British |
| Relax Gaming | An innovative provider that offers slots, GO Poker, Bingo, and Dream Drop jackpot slots (it’s also a game aggregator). | SpinYoo |
| Play’n Go | The maker of Book of Dead, which is another popular provider that has a wide range of slots with diverse themes and features | LeoVegas |
| Playtech | One of the largest and most established providers that offers slots, table games, live casino, and bingo, as well as sports betting and poker software | MagicRed |
Now, this is just an overview of what the casino software providers listed here are known for, but they have much more to offer.
Best slot providers in the UK
As you might have noticed, a lot of the providers offer online slots. However, there are a few casino providers that focus especially on slots and are well-known for them.
| Provider | Best known for | Where to play |
| IGT | This is one of the oldest providers out there, and its Wheel of Fortune slots are well-known. And interestingly, IGT started with land-based casinos and has successfully transitioned to online gaming. | Kwiff Casino |
| Yggdrasil | A popular provider that offers high-quality slots and unique Game Engagement Mechanics (GEMs) like doubleMAX and multiMAX | Luckster Casino |
| Hacksaw Gaming | A newer award-winning providers that take a mobile-first approach to its games. Most of the games by this provider are quirky, like Wanted Dead or a Wild and Chaos Crew. | Pub Casino |
| Big Time Gaming | Creators of the Megaways mechanic, which offers thousands of ways to win. Also known for the Megapays jackpot system. | Heyspin |
| Nolimit City | Well-known slots provider that makes volatile slots with bold and offbeat themes as well as innovative mechanics like xWays and xNudge | Unibet Casino |
Some other notable casino software providers
As mentioned earlier, we have countless software providers and game suppliers, and we cannot possibly mention each one in this guide. That being said, we have listed a few more notable providers in addition to the ones mentioned above –
- Quickspin – This is another reputable provider that started off with high-quality slots with engaging mechanics, like Sakura Fortune and Big Bad Wolf. The provider has also recently entered the
- BGaming – An innovative provider best known for using AI to make games and integrating cryptocurrency payments into its games.
- Ezugi – Best known for offering live games and game shows that go beyond the conventional offerings, like Fan Tan and Dragon Tiger. They cater to a global audience with a focus on Asian markets.
- AvatarUX – This is a relatively new provider, but it has already won a few awards for its visually stunning slots with innovative mechanics. They are known for their PopWins mechanic that boosts ways to win when triggered.
What to look for in a casino software provider?
Here’s the million-dollar question – how do you know if a casino provider is good or not? At Platin Casino UK, while reviewing casinos, we look at the providers that it has collaborated with. This helps us get an idea of the variety, quality, and number of games at the casino.
That being said, we have similar evaluation criteria for software providers that helps us determine whether the provider’s games are worth recommending or not. Here’s a list of things that we look for in a casino software provider –
Licenses
Much like online casinos, software providers also have to obtain a license to operate in the UK (and anywhere in the world, for that matter). A license shows that the provider is legit and credible. This information is usually available on the provider’s official website as well as the licensing authority’s database.
Fairness
As mentioned in our guide earlier, casino software providers have to get their games tested for RNG accuracy, RTP, and overall fairness. Usually, these tests are conducted by independent auditing bodies like eCOGRA, iTestLabs, and more.
Game Variety
Now, most providers focus on online slots or live casino games – they specialise in a specific area. However, more and more providers are looking into other kinds of games like crash games, instant games, arcade games, match-3 games, and more.
Quality of the games
This includes the visuals, sound, animation effects, game mechanics, features, and more. Let’s take a look at it real quick –
- Graphics and sound: Games should have high-quality graphics, animations, and sound effects that create an immersive and engaging experience. For instance, a game set in a carnival should have carnival-related symbols, cheerful music, and other visuals that create a carnival-like atmosphere.
- Gameplay and features: Games should be entertaining and engaging with innovative features, bonus rounds, and unique mechanics that keep players hooked.
- User Interface: The games should have an interface that is easy to navigate and understand, regardless of the player’s experience level.
Reputation
Expert reviews, user reviews, the provider’s own website, awards, and more will also give you an idea about the casino software provider.
Availability
Not all providers and their games would be available in all regions. Some providers focus on specific markets, so ensure the games you want to play are accessible.
Partner Casinos
Top providers usually partner with reputable and well-established online casinos. If a provider’s games are featured at trusted casinos, it’s a good sign of their quality, reliability, and availability.
Innovation and features
As mentioned, casino game development is a highly competitive industry, so most providers are constantly upping their game with game mechanics, in-game features, cinematic cutscenes, elaborate lores, and even in-game promotions.
Mobile compatibility
Considering that a lot of players prefer taking their games on the go, more and more providers are making their games optimised for mobile or taking a mobile-first approach.
Responsible Gambling
Reputable providers prioritise responsible gaming and incorporate features like deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion tools into their games.
Conclusion
Summing up, casino software providers are an important part of the whole online casino ecosystem. Providers produce games – slots, live casino games, game shows, and pretty much everything you play at the casino. Since this is a highly competitive industry, providers are constantly making improvements, bringing about innovations, and releasing new games. For players, this means you get to play high-quality games with engaging mechanics – and also try new games frequently.
To enjoy your favourite games and check out the new ones, browse and sign up at any of the best casino sites that our team has reviewed.
FAQs
What are the most popular game providers?
As mentioned, some of the notable and well-established game providers include NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, IGT, and more.
Do casino software developers make free games?
Yes, many providers offer a free demo of their games, so players can try them for free before betting real money. However, this feature is usually limited to slots and 2D RNG-based table games and not live casino games.
Do software developers need to be licensed in the UK?
Yes, as mentioned in our guide, software developers need to have a license to operate legally in the UK market.
